News in brief: Rice industry stakeholders in Malaysia have agreed to implement the Local White Rice Special Programme (PKBPT) to boost local production by 20% for the domestic market for a year.
Rice millers, wholesalers and retailers have agreed to implement the Local White Rice Special Programme (PKBPT) throughout Malaysia to ensure a stable supply of local white rice in the market.
The programme will see millers increase local white rice production by 20% for the domestic market for a year. It will implement the plan in two phases.
The move is aimed at addressing Members of Parliament (MPs) concerns that they raised on the second day of the Mid-Term Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan debate. They had concerns about the lack of rice supply in the country and increase in the price of imported rice.
In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said the ministry and national rice industry stakeholders agreed upon the PKBPT at an engagement session in Putrajaya.
Representatives from the domestic trade and cost of living ministry, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Board (Fama), the Farmers Organization Authority (LPP), as well as five major rice wholesalers and 11 hypermarkets were all present for the agreement.
The ministry said Fama and LPP would be in charge of distributing local white rice to target groups, especially in areas that do not have supermarkets. It assured the public that it will monitor and enforce the programme through the Padi and Rice Control Authority.
The engagement session was the third one held by the ministry on the issue of rice supply. Previous sessions were held with supermarkets on July 20, and with rice millers and wholesalers on August 28. The ministry said it would work with stakeholders to ensure the stability of the local white rice supply.
